Maxine's Pickity Patch

When we visited Urbanweeds a couple of weeks ago, we also happened to be on the lookout for fresh cut flowers for our apartment — we felt like stepping up from the usual grocery store fare that day. A staff person recommended Maxine's, which she swore was one of her favorite florists in town. She also warned us that it would be an experience, and she wasn't kidding.

Maxine's is actually a pretty sizable gift shop, in addition to being a well-reputed florist. It would feel like your garden-variety, saccharine-sweet vacation-town mercantile if it didn't go over the top just a tad far. Take the live birds in vintage cages lining the walls; they let out a perfunctory squawk just as we decided they were fake.

Lamps, candles and books are displayed among other vintage and vintage-inspired pieces, like desks, embellished flip mirrors and wrought-iron bistro tables. We were particularly intrigued by this series of petal/flame table and floor lamps dotting the store.

In the end we couldn't commit to a floral arrangement, and stopped by Whole Foods on the way home instead. But we don't regret the detour: our Urbanweeds friend was right; it was quite the experience.